Golf Isn't Just for Rich People

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 13, 2009 11:14 AM EST

Jaime Diaz has a piece that highlights a program in northern California called Youth on Course. Started in 2006 by the NCGA, it takes donations and purchases tee times for youth at off-peak times.

Those times are then made available to golfers under 18, generally for $2 a round. At facilities with ranges, it's $1 a bucket. More than 100 courses in California--whose managers are more acutely aware than ever that a starting time unused is revenue forever lost--have supplied more than 11,000 kids with the deep discount. Meanwhile, former USGA president Sandy Tatum, that 88-year-old missionary of the public game, is hoping to make the program a national model.

It's a wonderful idea. But, Youth on Course isn't the only program like that. There is another program across the country, in Rhode Island, with similar aims called Button Hole. Kids sign up to take a series of lessons about the game. After graduating from the program, they're allowed to play a 9 hole facility for $1 any time that they want until they'r 18. They can also hit range balls for $1.

If we can do this for kids, why can't we do it for adults? No, I don't mean to suggest that we should have dollar days for golf courses around the country. But, we have talked about discounting the price of golf to encourage more people to take up the game. And we have talked about discounting the price so far that it wouldn't be worth it for the course owners.

Still, according to a post we did last week, it seems like golf courses are reducing fees because of the economy. How about more half price tee times? You could even scatter them through the day so as to encourage people to play consistently throughout the day.

Even more importantly, though, is making golf cheap and accessible for adults. Sure, kids love to learn the game. But, time and again on the course I am told by older people (50s, 60s, older) that they wish they had started playing when they were in their early teens. The lesson is that a lot of people don't take up golf until they're in their 20s and beyond. If we make golf accessible for them in a fashion similar to Button Hole and Youth on Course, then the game may come out of the recession stronger than where it is now.

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Comments

about time...

…we’ve been trying to make this point for years. ESPN boneheads, like Diaz, always prefer to take the easy, cheap shot. Let’s hope he’s learned his lesson…but I doubt it.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 13, 2009 11:23 AM EST reply actions

Still pondering...

I’m not sure it’s money that is the driving force behind adults not choosing golf over other things. Maybe it’s different in other parts of the country, but where I live you can get on a public average course for under $20 – there are a couple of executive courses that are $10 or less. But maybe price is prohibitive in other places – what I hear more than anything is that people are just too darn busy to commit to playing golf (which of course I cannot comprehend).

by red tees on Feb 13, 2009 12:19 PM EST reply actions

it's a list...

…there is the time factor – the difficulty factor (this just isn’t an easy game to get good at) – accessibility of your price range courses – expenses other than greens fees (clubs aren’t exactly cheap and you have to keep buying balls…) – some people don’t think golf is “manly” enough – some people won’t play if they can’t play some overly manicured course for $25

but all anybody ever looks at are the prices at a high falootin’ country club and the money PGA Tour guys make.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 13, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with all of those things...

but I was responding more to this comment by Ryan..

Even more importantly, though, is making golf cheap and accessible for adults.

Do you think cheaper golf is going to bring in more active/committed golfers?

by red tees on Feb 13, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

not me

it’s still an aquired taste of a game. kind of like a gym membership – lots of people give it a try – but lots of people quit not too long after they start.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 13, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't say

That money is necessarily the most important thing. Like court said, it’s tough, hard to access at times, costs a lot of money, and has a stigma as a WASP game. But, lower green fees would help get people past the range.

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 13, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions